Grading and ditching machine.



PATENTED MAY 17, 1904.

'J. W. BAKER. GRADING AND DITGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED .TAN 15, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SH'EET l.

N0 MODEL.

@ummm-mm2@ J byy @QM/(Mmm No. 759,954. v PATENTED MAY 17, 1904. J. W.BAKER.

GRADING AND DITGHING- MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 15, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET M@ w '5 y lNO MODEL.

l@ n mu (y @EL Patented `May 17, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE- JOSEPH IV. BAKER, OF EL PASO, TEXAS.

GRADING AND DITCHING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 759,954, dated May 17,1904.

Application filed January l5, 1904. Serial No. 189,151. (No model.)

To all wh/0m t 'may concern:

Beitknown that I, JOSEPH WBAKEP., a citizen of the United States,residing at El Paso, inthe county of El Paso and State oit' Texas, haveinvented a new and useful Grading and Ditching Machine, oi which thefollowing is a specification. Y

This invention relates to grad ing and ditching machines such as areused for making, grading', and repairing roads, for digging' ditches,building levees, and for all similar purposes which require dirt to beexcavated, elevated, and delivered at a distance from the point wherethe excavation is made.

The invention has for its object to provide a machine of this classwhich shall be simple in construction and eiiicient in operation; andwith these ends in view the invention consists in the improvedconstruction, arrangement, and combination of parts, which will behereinafter described,and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is shown a simple and preferred form ofembodiment oli' my invention, it being understood that changes may bemade as to the size, proportion, and exact manner of assemblage of partswithin the scope of my invention and without departing from the spiritor sacrificing the utility of the same. j

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a machinev constructed inaccordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional viewenlarged. Fig. 3 is asectional view taken on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2, thecarrier-wheel being omitted. Fig. f1 is a sectional detail viewenlarged, taken on the line f1 l in Fig. l.

Corresponding parts in the several iigures are indicated by similarnumerals et' reference.

In carrying out my invention I provide a The frame is su pported whichthey may be adjusted. By this construction it will be seen that theentire frame may be raised or lowered, as may be desired, and also thateither end of said frame may be vertically adjusted independently oit'the other end. v

Adjacent to one side of the frame in proximity to the side beam 1 aredisposed two plows 9 and 10, one oi' said plows being a right-hand plowand the other a left-hand plow. The beams 11 of said plows have pivotalconnection at 12 with the side l of the frame, and said beams areprovided at their front ends with ordinary means, as 13, for theattachment of d raft.

Rising from the side piece 1 is an upright 14, to which is pivoted ahand-lever 15, having at its lower end a T-head 16, theoppositelyextending arms of which are connected, by means o'l' links 17,with the rear ends of the plow-beams 11. It will be seen that by movingthe lever 15 in one direction one of the plows will be depressed intooperative or earth-engaging position, while by reversing the positionci' the lever the relative `position of the plows will be reversed. Thelever 15 may be locked at any desired point of adjustment by means of anordinary lock-dog '18, engaging a toothed segment 19, supported by theupright 14:. v

The opposite side beam 2 of the frame has an upright 20, provided withan inwardly-ex'- tending elbow 21, at the inner end of which is aninclined spindle 22, supporting the hub 23 of a large wheel 24, whichconstitutes the carrier of the machine. This wheel comprises besidcs thehub 23 a plurality of radiating spokes 25, connecting said hub with therim 26, which hingedly supports a plurality of buckets 27, havinginwardly-extending lugs 28, each bucket being provided with a pair ofsaid lugs. The spokes ot' the wheel support a ring or annulus 29.Pivotally connected with the lugs 28 of each of the buckets 27 is alatch-bar 30, provided near its inner end with a notch 31, adapted toengage the under edge ol the ring 29, which latter thus serves to lockthe latch-bar in operative position. The inner ends et' the latch-barsare connected with the hub ot the wheel by IOC means of coiled springs32, whereby they are automatically drawn into operative or lockedposition, as will be readily understood.

Suitably swiveled on the spindle 22 above the hub of the wheel 24 is anarm or lever 33, carrying at one end a wheel 34, constituting a tripdevice for the latch-bars, in the pathof which the said wheel isdisposed. The opposite end of the arm or lever 33 is connected by a rod35 with an operating-lever 36. Said operating-lever is connecteddetachably with one side of the drivers seat 38 and may be shifted fromone side of said seat to the other side, the seat being provided on cachside with a fulcrum pin or stud 39 for said lever and with a toothedsegment40 to be engaged by a lock-dog 41, with which said lever isprovided. rIhe seat 38 is carried by a pivoted 'supporting-spring 42,whereby it may be reversed, so as to face either end of the frame ofthemachine. then the seat is thus reversed, it obviously becomes necessaryto shift the operating-lever 36 from one side of the seat to the other,the connecting-rod 35 being unhooked from the leverwhile such change isbeing effected. By means of this lever and connecting-rod the arm orlever 33, carrying the trip-wheel 34, may be adjusted to variouspositions in order that the latch-bar may pass into engagement with thetrip mechanism at any desired predetermined point.

The frame of the machine is for strengthening purposes provided withsuitably-disposed braces 47, and I desire it to be understood that inorder to properly support the weight. of the carrier-wheel suitableguides and antifriction-bearings maybe used wherever they may beprofitably employed. Such devices, however, are well knownin the art thedrawings.

It will be observed that in the operation of this device the draft maybe attached to either end of the machine, which may be thus propelled ineither direction. The lower portion of the periphery of thecarrying-wheel 24 is to be ladjusted in contact with the ground, andthis may be effected by mounting the ends of the frame-bar 2 pivotallyin boxes 43 upon the end pieces 3 ofthe frame. The weight of the wheelupon the elbow 2l will cause it to sag automatically into the properearth-engaging position, and it may, if desired, be secured in suchearth-engaging position by means of set-screws 44, engaging' the .boxes43, or by any other suitable and convenient means. It is also obviousthat the entire frame of the machine, by meansv of the crank-axlescarrying the supporting-wheels, may be raised or lowered within thelimits of the length of the cranks. To provide for such adjustment, theupright l4,carrying the plowsetting lever 15, is also preferably mountedtion passes over the ground, the plows having been previously set totheproper position, the dirt turned by the operative plow will be depositedupon the buckets of the carryingwheel, which latter by contact with thesoil will be rotated as the machine progresses, thus elevating' the soiland simultaneously carrying it to the opposite side of the frame. Thelatch-bars of the respective buckets will thus be engaged by thetrip-wheel, which has been previously adjusted by the means described,being thereby depressed until the notches-3l become disengaged from theannulus 29,when the weight of the load upon the buckets will tilt thelatter against the tension of the springs 32, thus discharging the load.Being relieved of the load, the weight of' the buckets will be overcomeby the tension of the springs 32, whereby the latch-bars are redrawninto locked position, and the buckets 'will thus be ready to receiveanother load. g

It is obvious fromgthe foregoing that the machine by simply transferringthe draft from one end of the frame to the other and reversing theposition of the plows and seat may be operated with equal efficiency inopposite directions. The general construction is such that the machineis enabled to work very close to fences, hedges, and similarobstructions, and the dirt excavated may be deposited at a distance fromthe point where it is excavated equal to the diameter of the wheel,which in practice may be made of any desired size. The frame may beadjusted and the wheel may be tilted soas to elevate the dirt to anydesired height within the capacity of the machine, which will thus befound extremely useful not only for road building and grading purposes,but equally for ditching and for building levees andthe like.

Having thus described my invention, I claim4 l. In a machine of theclass described, an earth-engaging inclined carrier-wheel, and right andleft hand plows arranged adjacent to the lower edge of said wheel.

2. In a machine of the class described, an inclined earth-engagingcarrier-wheel, a frame supporting the same, and a pair of plows, oneright-hand and one left-hand, supported by said frame adjacent to thelower earth-engaging edge of` said wheel. Y

3. In a machine of the class described, an inclined earth-engagingcarrier-wheel,a frame supporting' the same, a pair of oppositelyfacedplows disposed adjacent to YtheV lower earth-engaging edge of saidwheel, and means for moving said plows vertically in oppositedirections.

4. In a machine of the class described, an inclined earth-engagingcarrier-wheel, a supporting-frame for the same,supporting-wheels forsaid frame, means for vertically adjustadjustably in a socket 45 uponthe side piece ing the latter with relation to the said sup- 1 of theframe.

Then the machine in operaporting-wheels, a plow arranged adjacent to IOOIOSv

IIO

the lower earth-engaging edge of the carrier- .wheel, and means forindependent vertical adjustment of said plow.

5. In a machine of the class described, an inclined carrier-wheel, asupporting-frame for the same, supporting-wheels for said frame, meansfor adjusting the latter' vertically with relation to the said wheels,oppositely-faced plows, the beams of which have pivotal connection withone side oi' the frame adjacent to the'lower edge of the carrier-wheel,an upright vertically adjustable with relation to the frame, and meansconnected with said upright for eii'ecting vertical' adjustment inopposite directions, of said plows.

6. In a machine of the class described, a wheel-supported frame,oppositely-i'aced plows connected with one side of said frame, anupright rising from the opposite side ot' said Jframe and having aninwardly-extending elbow, and an inclined earth-engaging wheel journaledto said elbow.

7. In a machine of the class described,a wheeled supporting-frame,oppositely-faced plows connected with one side of said frame, aninclined carrier-wheel, and means for supporting the latter adjustablyin an inclined position.

8. In a machine oi the class described, a wheeled supporting-frame, aninclined carrierwheel having a plurality of buckets, excavating meansfor throwing the excavated material upon said buckets at the lower edgeof the wheel, and means for tilting the said buckets at a predeterminedpoint.

9. In amachine of the class described, a supporting-frame, areversely-revoluble inclined carrier-wheel, oppositely-pointedexcavating' means disposed adjacent to the lower edge oi thecarrier-wheel, and means for adjusting said excavating means verticallyin opposite directions.

10. In a machine of the class described, a supporting-frame, areversely-revoluble carrier-wheel having a plurality of tilting buckets,oppositely pointed excavating means, means for adjusting said excavatingmeans vertically in opposite directions, an adjustable rotary trippingdevice, and latch means cooperating with said tripping device to tiltthe buckets when the carrier-wheel rotates in either direction.

11. In a machine of the class described, a supporting-frame includingaside piec'e journaled on the end bars and constituting a rockshai't,and an inclined carrier-wheel mounted upon said rock-shaft.

12. In a machine of the class described, a supjiiorting-frame including'a rock-shaft, supporting-wl'ieels for said frame, means for effectingvertical adjustment of said frame with relation to the saidsupporting-wheels, and a carrier-wheel mounted upon said rockshaft.

13. In a machine of the class described, a

wheeled supporting-frame including a rockshai't, an upright rising fromsaid shaft and having' an elbow and acarrier-wheel journaled upon saidelbow.

14. In a machine of the class described, a carrier-wheel, a pluralityot' buckets connected hingedly with the rim ot' said wheel, latchbarsconnected hingedly with said buckets and provided with notches neartheir inner ends, and an annulus concentric with the rim ot' the wheeland engaging the notches in the latch-bars.

15. In a machine of the class described, a suitably-supjiortedcarrier-wheel, a plurality of buckets hingedly connected with the rim ofsaid wheel, latch-bars hingedly connected with said buckets and providedwith notches near their inner ends, an annulus concentric with the rimot' the wheel and adapted to engage the notches in the latch-bars, andsprings connecting the inner ends of the latter with the hub of thewheel. Y

16. In a machine of the class described, a suitably-supportedcarrier-wheel, a plurality 0f buckets hingedly connected with the rim ofsaid wheel, latch-bars hingedly connected with said buckets and havingnotches near their lower ends, an' annulus concentric with the rim ofthe wheel and engaging the notches in said latch-bars, spring means forforcing the latch-bars in an inward direction, and a tripping device t0disengage the notched latchbars from the annulus.

17. In a machine of the class described, a suitably supported carrierwheel, buckets hingedly connected with the rim of said wheel, an annulusconcentric with the rim of the wheel, latch-bars adapted to engage saidannulus, spring means for forcing said latchbars in an inward direction,and adjustable trip means to engage and unlock said latchbars at apredetermined point.

18. In a machine of the class described, a suitably supported carrierwheel, buckets connected hingedly with the rim of said wheel, latch-barshingedly connected with said buckets, an annulus concentric with the rimof the wheel and engaging said latch-bars, spring means for forcing thelatter into engagement with the annulus, an arm journaled upon the axisot' the carrier-wheel, a rotary tripping element carried by said arm todisengage the latch-bars from the annulus at a predeter- IOO IIO

mined point, andadjusting means for the tripmeans for adjusting saidexcavating elements vertically in opposite directions, a seat providedon opposite sides With fulcrum-pins, a pivoted reversible support forsaid seat, an IO operating-lever fulcrumed upon the latter,

and connecting means between said operatingrod and the trip-'carryingarm.

In testimony that I claim the Jforegoing as my oWn I have hereto afixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOSEPH W. BAKER.

Witnesses:

U. S. GouN, J. F. MITCHELL.

